55. Except and except for

 55. Except and except for 

• Incorrect: Except you, I like everyone. 

• Correct: Except for you, I like everyone. 

• Incorrect: Except this mistake, you did very well.

 • Correct: Except for this mistake, you did very well.  Except can be used without for after words like all, every, no, everything, anybody, nowhere, whole etc. In other cases we usually use except for. 

• He cleaned all the rooms except the bedroom. OR He cleaned all the rooms except for the bedroom. (Except can be used without for after all.) 

• Nobody was invited except Peter and Alice. OR Nobody was invited except for Peter and Alice.

 • I like everyone except / except for you. 

• They were all tired except / except for John. • That was a good essay, except for a few spelling mistakes. (NOT That was a good essay, except a few spelling mistakes.) Before prepositions and conjunctions we use except.